Two physical grounds??


Due to construction issues the only way to ground my line conditioner is by instaling a dedicated ground rod for it (i.e. the house outlets are of type that accept a 2 prong plug). This dedicated ground rod for the line conditioner will be about 16 feet away from the ground rod for the electrical wiring for my house. By doing this would I get into trouble regarding a "ground loop".
tiofelon

Showing 3 responses by bifwynne

Tio, on the one hand you mention that "the house outlets are of [a] type that accept a 2 prong plug." On the other hand, when raising the possiblilty of installing a separate dedicated grounding rod for the line conditioner, you mention the new rod would be "about 16 feet away from the ground rod for the electrical wiring for my house."

I assume that the outlet in question is wired with two wire ungrounded romex. Ergo, why there's only a two plug outlet available for the line conditioner.

I hope I'm not being simple here, but if there is a grounding rod for the house, to what extent is the house wired with three wire grounded romex. That is, the various line circuits all converge to one place, the fuse or circuit box, which in turn, I assume is tied into the house ground, as required by most electric codes. If most of the house wiring is grounded romex, then you could run a new grounded romex line from the outlet that is dedicated to the line conditioner to the grounded socket.

However, if the house is old (like mine), most of the house wiring may only be old fashioned ungrounded two wire romex. If so, I like Tjt's idea the best. Maybe that would work if you can fish the ground through the wall and attach it to the water pipe.
Magfan, maybe they're really old?? Otherwise, I think most folks just slap a three prong into the outlet, but don't ground it.

As I mentioned in my post, my house is old, maybe built 50-55 years ago and was wired with 2 wire ungrounded romex. When we moved in about 18 years ago, we did a lot of home improvement and electrical work in the basement. While the basement ceiling was opened up, the electrician was able to rewire most of the 1st floor outlets with grounded romex. BTW, the electrician was licensed and his work was inspected by a township inspector to ensure all work was done in accordance with code.

FWIW
Magfan, maybe it's is a local thing, but every licensed electrician who has been in the house for one reason or another says that as long as we don't mess with the old romex and don't overload the outlets, the old stuff is stable.

To undertake what I think you are suggesting, which is to change out the old 2 wire romex, would entail ripping the house apart. Most of the old wire is attached to the studwork. As I mentioned above, when the occassion arises, we always try to change over circuits to comply with modern code.

But what about the OP?? I wonder what his situation is. Btw, I'm not an electrician, so take this with a grain of salt, but I don't like the idea of two ground rods either.